PSA: Laying a brick patio in the 90s was a whole different pace.

I was thinking about a job I did years ago, a big backyard patio. We had to mix mortar by hand, and it felt like it took ages to get right. The client wanted it done fast, but back then, you just had to wait for things to set properly. Now, with pre-mixed bags and quick-dry stuff, you can knock it out in a day. But I kinda miss that slow process, it made you check every brick twice. It showed me that good work can't always be rushed, even now.

4 comments

4 Comments

oscarw171mo ago

Appreciate that point about the forced patience. The extra time on site built a different kind of care into the work itself.

paulw531mo ago

Slow methods force quality checks that stick with you.

quinn_burns29d ago

Honestly that slow pace sounds like it built a real skill. Tbh with the quick stuff now, how do you even know if a new worker has that same eye for detail? It seems like the old way taught you to feel when something was right, not just follow a bag's instructions. Ngl I worry that speed just lets sloppy work get covered up faster.

shanen311mo ago

Helped my uncle on a walkway when I was a kid, and we mixed the mortar in a wheelbarrow. You had to get the feel for it, adding water a little at a time. That slow method meant you placed each brick, gave it a tap with the mallet, and really looked at it. It built a habit of double checking your work that stuck with me, even on faster jobs now.